Hungry Ghosts

Penang.

Hungry Ghosts 2016

Giant Paper Effigy

The opening of Hell Gates usually falls on the 15th day of the 7th month of the Chinese Lunar calendar. The ghosts descend en masse and roam among the living. They are given one month to taste their favourite food, enjoy worldly pleasures and settle old scores. Yes, settle scores, so watch out.

Temporary sheds and stages are built to the side or in front of Taoist temples, where offerings of food and drink are placed.

Food and Drink

Every night, Chinese opera, puppet shows and concerts of pop songs and dance are performed for the ghosts, though the dances seem to be a shade too sleazy – I guess mostly to appease some of the male ghosts.

For one month, we, the non-ghosts, appease the Hungry. We set out offerings of rice and noodles and cakes, vegetables and fruits, chicken, meat and seafood. Offerings are not only set out at temples before paper deities and the Emperor of Hades, they are also set out at temporary shrines outside homes, by the roadside, on the beaches or in the parks.

Elaborate Joss Sticks

Giant Joss Sticks

Offering of paper hell money, paper gold ingots and paper everyday objects such as household effects, cars and mobile phones are made. There are even paper partners for the unmarried ghosts. Joss sticks, candles, lamps and red lanterns light up places where offerings are made, all to provide for another year of afterlife.

Bags of Hell Money

On the 30th day of the 7th moon, the ghosts, properly satiated, no longer hungry or yearning for food and material goods, are sent off with huge bonfires into which are cast the paper money and paper gold, paper replicas and paper effigies. The ghosts leave earth. They roam no more. With relief and satisfaction, we can get on with what we do best … living.

Don

Do Not Enter

There are things one should not do during this auspicious month.

Most important is try not to die if you can help it.

Do not step on offerings that are placed on the ground for the ghosts, and if you do please apologize loudly.

The month is also not auspicious for moving house, starting a new business or getting married.

Limit night-time outings just in case a ghost is tempted to lure you away, especially if you are a good-looking woman. On the other hand, if your looks could scare a ghost, then you really have nothing to worry about.

Do not go swimming, a drowned person’s ghost might need company.

Don’t wear red. Ghosts love red, though they are normally known to stick to white or black.

RED

And try not to be born in this month. Aiyoo … such bad luck, la!

Most Hungry Ghosts prefer Penang, as the island is famous for its wonderful food. This is a little unfortunate as this is the same time we celebrate the month-long George Town Festival. So if you must see shows at night, try to avoid the first and second rows of VIP seats, as they may be taken up by ghosts who want to see the same show.

And so our connection between the living and the dead and our world and the other worlds continues.